Fire extinguishing apparatus and method



July 26, 1932. M, HMPSON 1,869,319

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1928 INVENTOR L. 6. Moms T/MPSO/V ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS G. MORRIS TIMPSON, OF PLAINFIELD, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T Z PYRENE- MINIMAX CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FIRE nxrmeursnme nrrann'rusmvn mnrnon Application filed J'uly 14, 1928, Serial No. 29 2,721.

; The present invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and method and has for an object to provide an improved arrangement for charging a stream of water f with fire fighting materials.

The invention has been developed in connection with the production of apparatus for forming'fire' foam and for convenience such an embodiment of the invention will be more particularly described, but it will be understood thatthe particular description is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits'of the invention.

The nature and objects of the invention 16 will be better understood from a consideration of a particular embodiment thereof for the purpose of which description reference.

should be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which 3 I 90 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view-of foam forming apparatus embodying the invention, and f 1 v Figure 2 is a detail view of the three-way valve 30. i a i When charging a'stream with foam forming chemicals by introducing the stream into the top of a container carrying a large charge of powder, the quality of the foam which depends upon the errosion varies considerably as the powder charge is gradually used up. This variation of the quality of the foam is due to the fact that the water is first admitted to the powder container at a point close to the surface of the powder, but, as the charge is gradually exhausted, the water flows through a substantial body of foam before it engages the powder. The present invention provides an arrangement whereby the water is admitted at all times at a point relatively close to the surface of the powder.

The point of admission of the water maybe changed by manual manipulation or by automatically'controlled means as the powder charge is exhausted.

The apparatus shown for the purposeofillustrating the principles of the invention comprises a charging tank 5 adapted to contain a considerable charge of material to be loaded into the stream of water carrying the same to the point of use an men-1 S foradmitting water thereto first at the top and gradually at points further from the top as the charge of powder is exhausted. As shown, the water is admitted through a numberof spray heads 6, 7, 8, 9, the position of eachof which is fixed, and means is provided wherebythewater is admitted automatically first to the top spray-6 for a predetermined period of time and'then successively to the other devices; As the stream of water entering through the-sprays .is charged with powder, the resultant foam will-"flow out through the outlet 10 at the top of the tank.

In use thetank is fully charged with foam forming powder, for example to the level indicated at 11. The uppermost sprayl'de vice 6 is suitably postioned with relation to the top of the charge of powder to form eifec tive foam as water is admitted theret0.- In

the structure illustrated, the uppermost spray device is shown as positioned slightly below i the surface of the powder. The other simi lar spray devices are postioned at spaced distances" toward the bottom of thetank.

In operation water is first admitted to the uppermost spray head 6 for such period of time as will be necessary. to exhaust a certain propo'rti on of the powder whereupon the supply of water to said spray head isgradually closed and water is admitted gradually to the next lower spray head 7. As the powder charge is exhausted the several spray heads arebrought into action successively to admit water to the charge at apointrelatively adjacent the upper surface thereof.

Whether the water is admittedjust above or just below the surface of the powder will depend upon the nature of the powder and the character of the loading desired,

the flow of the stream being charged, -As" is so arranged that when weight 36 is'onthe trigger the water supply to the tank is closed,

and the drain from the tank is open,as shown in Fig. 2. This v'alve'isjarranged to be opened when the apparatus is set in o en ation, thus permitting agradual flow of water to the float tank to gradually fill the same The shut-ofi valve 31 may be arranged tobe normally open but automatically closed when the heat tankis entirely filled.

The three-way valve isshown in closed pos ton but operative to open communication to the float tank. may be moved downwardly to open thesv'alve The operating lever 35 by a weight- 36 slidable on the rod 37'secured to the operating lever 35 and supported byia fusible hail 38 connected in 'an'electric circuit 39. W'h'enthe circuit 1S'ClOSCl automatically or manually fusion of the bail 38$Will1'8- lease the weight 36 which,'falling, will swing the lever 35 through an angle of90 to open the valve. The whole apparatus will then be set in operation.

When the cycle of operation is completed the charge of powder in the container 5 will be exhausted and the flow of'waterto the provided for thispurpose isish'own diagram- 7 I maticaily as connected by an-arm-l and a tdthe operating leverdoi' the Valve 31f'to close the same;

Th'e float tank 25 can be emptied through the waste conduit 45 by manual operation of the valve 30.

Thai-foregoing description is illustrative merely and isnot intended as defining the limits of the invention. 1

iclainiz 1.5 In apparatus of the'character described for charging a stream with powdered =material, the combination with 'a charging-tank point (if-inlet in a substantially predeterr 2. In" apparatus ofthe character described charging astreamwith powdered mate rial, the combination with-'a'chargingtank of "means for passing a stream 'into'said tank at anyone of a "plurality of predetermined "points including means for automatically; varym'gthe point-iof i nletfof'saidstream within the tank as the powder is carried away by the stream, the arrangement being such that the inlet point follows the receding surface of the powder, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the character'described ing-surfa ed the powder, of means for tea- 1 maticlally' controlling theadmission of water. successively tosaid inlets, substantially as described.

; l. In apparatus: of the character described for charging a stream with powdered mate-- rial, the combinationwith a tank having an outlet and aplura'lity of in l'ets at predetermined points of means foradmitting water to said inlets'successively for limited periods of time, said means being soconstructed and arrangedas to maintain aflo'w into said tank, substantially at the. surface of the powder as the level of the surfaceofthe. powder lowers,

substantially asxdescribedi. -5 .In apparatus of the character describedv v for charging a stream with powdered I material,-.the combination with a tank having an outlet adjacent its top and a plurality of in- 'letsspaced different distances- :trom the top of said tank of means for automatically ad-,,-

mitting water successiv'elyto said inlets from the uppermost'tothe lowermost tovdischarige the water int-othe tank at substantiallythe surface pi the'imaterial as the latter r'ecedes, V substantially as described: g 6;:.-In apparatus of the character described for charging a stream with powdered mate- :rial in .v-combination a charging tank adapted to contain a charge of powder, a pluralityof t'inl'ets for admitting w'aterto said tank at;. l

diiierent elevations, a-timin-g device arranged to be automaticallyiset inoperation upon op- -eration-=oi the apparatus ioriadmittin-g water successively to said inlets in "a definite se- =o -uencesoa-s to i'ollow the recession (of the sur tace of't'he charge, ior1predeter-minedperiods oftim'e, substantially its-described.

''7. In apparatus of the character described for charging a stream with powdered material in'combination a charging tank adapted: 'oif'lmeans Passing astreaminto:said'tank at any one of a. plurality of predetermined polnts including means for maintaining the to contain a chargerof powder, a plurality of :spray devices within said tank at different -distancesifrom the top thereof, agplurality of valves controlling the flow :of water to .said

spray devices and means for; successively bpeni-n-g and closing said valves, successively in a 'defin1t61-seql1110e to adm t waterto-suctime so as to follow the receding surface-of I -8. :Inapparatusof thecharacter described, a-tiin'ing device comprising a float tank ar- -;--r'anged to r'be filled gradually, ea .iioat therein 1 c'essive-spiray devices for 'limited periods of V and means controlled by the float operating during upward movement thereof for opening, holding open for a predetermined time and then closing a valve, substantially as described.

9. The method of charging a stream with a powdered material which com rises maintaining a charge of powder in a tank, flowing a stream of water to and from said charge of powder while periodically changing the point of ingress of said stream to maintain the same at a point relatively near the receding surface of the powder as the powder is exhausted, a predetermined quantity of water being introduced at each point. 1

10. In apparatus of the character described, a timing device comprising a float tank having an inlet arranged to be filled gradually, a float therein and means controlled by the float operative during upward movement thereof for opening, holding open for a predetermined time and then closing a' valve, a second float and means controlled thereby for closing the inlet to the float tank when the liquid therein reaches a predetermined level.

11. The method of charging a stream of water with powdered material for fire extinguishing purposes which comprises introducing the water into a tank containing a charge of the material at successively lower points, maintaining the point of introduction of the water below. the receding surface of. the charge, and removing the water charged with the material from a point above the point of introduction of the water.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this fifth day of July, 1928. v

LEWIS G. MORRIS TIMPSON. 

